There are a few things as unpleasant to look at as grout on your tiles. And to make matters worse, grout is a nightmare to clean! It just won’t come off without damaging the finish of your tiles. For a complicated job like this, it’s best to leave it up to the professionals. But if you really want to give it a try yourself, here’s how to clean grout off tile flooring.
What is Grout?
Before we get to cleaning it, it’s important to understand what grout is. Grout is a paste, usually made of cement, that is used to fill the gaps and crevices between tiles. Depending on the type of grout, it can take anywhere from 1 to 3 days to completely dry out. When not applied properly and cleaned and sealed, the grout can give a very bad look in your bathroom or kitchen or anywhere else. Therefore, in case of a bad grout job, you should get it cleaned by professionals right away.
How to Clean Grout Off Tile Flooring?
Once the grout has dried, it is quite hard to remove. Nonetheless, here are some of the ways to remove grout from tile flooring.
Scrub the Grout Haze Using Wood and Water
The first way is to gently scrub and scrape the grout a little bit at a time. Take some water and pour it over the grout. This will not only help soften the grout slightly but also lubricate the tile surface and help prevent any scratches on the floor as you scrub and scrape. Once you’ve added the water, take a piece of wood with a square-cut end.
Avoid using metal utensils like knives or steel wools as those can seriously damage your tiles, doing more harm than good. Use the piece of wood to gently scrape away as many large chunks as possible. Keep wiping away with a damp cloth and adding more water. Finally, when you’ve got the major bits out, use a soft nylon scouring pad to get the rest.
Dissolve the Grout
Another method is to dissolve the grout first, which makes the whole thing a lot easier. Take a mixture of 1 cup of white sugar and 1 gallon of hot water, mixed till the sugar has dissolved, and pour it over the grout completely.
Leave it for around two hours to really loosen the grout, and then start scraping it with a piece of wood. Keep the surface wet by adding more of the sugar mixture as you work. Once you’ve got the major chunks off, use a nylon scouring pad to get the rest.
Conclusion
If you’re here reading this, it probably means that you know how big of a headache cleaning grout off tiles is. While we have provided you with some tips on how to clean grout off tile flooring yourself, we’d still recommend consulting a professional cleaner to remove grout off the tiles or else you run the risk of damaging your floors.
How often should you clean tile floors?
You should clean your tile floors using a dust mop at least once per week and before using any cleaning solution on the tile.
What is best for cleaning tile floors?
White vinegar is the best solution for cleaning tile. It's not recommended using any kind of soap solution of the tile as it will leave a film on the tile surface and possibly cause mildew as well.